CA1039977A - Ring gear assembly - Google Patents
Ring gear assemblyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1039977A CA1039977A CA243,076A CA243076A CA1039977A CA 1039977 A CA1039977 A CA 1039977A CA 243076 A CA243076 A CA 243076A CA 1039977 A CA1039977 A CA 1039977A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ring gear
- housing
- peripheral surface
- recesses
- semi
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 206010013710 Drug interaction Diseases 0.000 claims 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 9
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000851 Alloy steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910001208 Crucible steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003716 rejuvenation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H55/00—Elements with teeth or friction surfaces for conveying motion; Worms, pulleys or sheaves for gearing mechanisms
- F16H55/02—Toothed members; Worms
- F16H55/12—Toothed members; Worms with body or rim assembled out of detachable parts
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Retarders (AREA)
- Gears, Cams (AREA)
- Gear Transmission (AREA)
Abstract
RING GEAR ASSEMBLY
Abstract of the Disclosure A ring gear mounted within a final drive or trans-mission housing and fixed against rotation with respect thereto.
The ring gear is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced peripheral semi-circular recesses contiguous with opposing recesses in a peripheral portion of the housing. Drive pins are inserted within the circular apertures formed by the opposed semi-circular recesses. The pins and the ring gear are retained against axial movement by means of keeper plates fastened to a peripheral portion of the housing. The diameters of the angularly spaced peripheral semi-circular recesses are greater than those of the drive pins and in a perferred construction the centers of rotation of such enlarged semi-circular recesses are displaced from the centers of the drive pins.
Abstract of the Disclosure A ring gear mounted within a final drive or trans-mission housing and fixed against rotation with respect thereto.
The ring gear is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced peripheral semi-circular recesses contiguous with opposing recesses in a peripheral portion of the housing. Drive pins are inserted within the circular apertures formed by the opposed semi-circular recesses. The pins and the ring gear are retained against axial movement by means of keeper plates fastened to a peripheral portion of the housing. The diameters of the angularly spaced peripheral semi-circular recesses are greater than those of the drive pins and in a perferred construction the centers of rotation of such enlarged semi-circular recesses are displaced from the centers of the drive pins.
Description
~Q39977 ' Thls invention relates to improvements in the apparatu~ described in ~y Canadian Patent Application Serial No.
202,052 filed June 10, 1974.
Background of the Invention Large ring gears such as those used in final drives or in transmissions are usually supplied with peripheral external splines which are intended to engage similar splines .
provided on an internal peripheral surface of the housing within which the ring gear is mounted. Conventionally, retain-ing rings or tab means are provided on the housing to prevent ,... .. .
axial movement of the ring gear. The torque reaction produced by planetating pinions orbiting within the ring gear is carried by the splines provided in the housing.
Ring gears are usually formed from high-strength alloy steel which has ~een hardened for wear resistance and strength. On the contrary, the housing or gear case is normally ~~ ~
manufactured from a softer material such as cast steel. -Consequently, the torque load application to the housing splines results in time in wear or deformation of the splines in the ~0 housing but not on the splines provided on the ring gear. Such wear or deformation can result in backlash, not only in the immediate connection but in the gear train transmitting power to the ring gear and in some cases in a complete failure of $.
the housing splines.
Inasmuch as final drives and transmission housings `
are extremely expensive, especially in large earth moving machinery and the like, methods of repair and salvage have been devised for rejuvenating a worn ring gear-housing assembly.
One method which has been used involves the building up of , worn housing spline teeth by means of welding followed by remachining of such spline teeth on the ring gear and the ~ ;
.
'' . '~".
L113!g~
housing to provide proper mating. This procedure involves ~ .
considerable time and expense and requires large and ` -.
specialized machine tools.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new ring gear-housing combination wherein the ring gear is ~ -retained within the housing by inexpensive, easily replaceable .
means.
To this end the invention consists of a ring gear .
assembly comprising: a ring gear having peripherally :
disposed te~ h means for engaging means of a drive mechanism, housing means for supporting said ring gear, said ring year . .
of relatively harder material than said housing means and ~- ~
having a first peripheral surface contiguous with a corres- :
ponding second peripheral surface of said housing means, :
said first and second peripheral surfaces forming an annular interface between said ring gear and said housing means, said first peripheral surface having a first recess means therein, said second peripheral surface having second recess means ;:
therein, corresponding to and aligned with said first recess .
2Q means, said first and second recess means forming aperture ~ `
means, connecting element means disposed in said aperture ~: ~
means f~r limiting movement of said ring gear relative . .
said housing, keeper means mounted upon a portion of said housing means for limiting axial movement of said connecting .
elements means and said ring gear in at least one direction, ~-said first recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses in said first peripheral surface, said second recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses .
in said second peripheral surface, and wherein said 3Q connecting element means include a hardened circular pin , ~ ~ 2 ~
'~..
'' `
-.,. .. . ,, . ~
~3~ 7 member having a semi-circular portion for co-acting with :
each of said segmental recesses and wherein each of said segmental recesses has a diametric dimension greater than that of said circular pin member, and a depth substantially -equal to the radius of said circular pin member. ~
Other features of an embodiment of the invention ~ .
will become apparent from the following description. -;''''',; `,.' ' ~ 2a ~
" ~.
~.~3997~ `
B~ie~'Descrip'tlon of the D~awings ~ ' 'Fig, 1 is a partial elevation view of a ring gear _ equipped final drive housing'according to the prior application mentioned above;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the ring gear-housing shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternate context, also as shown in the prior ` ' application;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4;
~ Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the enlarged recess configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and ;' Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial view of Fig. 6 showing :
a set of aligned recesses and an installed drive pin.
Detailed Description With reference to Fig. l in the drawings, a ring gear-housing assembly or combination is shown generally at 10.
Internally of the rin8 gear, is disposed a planetary drive mechanism 12. The ring gear element of the combination is shown at 14. It consists of an annular ring having gear teeth 15 formed on an internal peripheral portion thereof. With ~,;
reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the ring gear is also provided with a plurality of spline teeth 16 formed on the external peripheral surface thereof. The housing element of the combination, for instance a final drive housing, is shown at 18. The housing portion includes an internally ''' splined portion having spline teeth 20 adapted for torque load -~
103!99q7 Supporting engagement with the splines 16 of the ring gear. ~ ~
The planetary drive mechanism 12 includes a ;~ ;
plurality of pinion gears 24 which are carried upon equally angularly spaced shaft means 26 and which are adapted for ;
engagement wlth the teeth 15 of the ring gear. The shafts 26 are fixed for rotation with a common carrier 31. A sun gear 28 is rotatably supported upon a tubular input drive shaft 30 in which is concentrically journalled an axle 32. The teeth `-~
of the sun gear 28 mesh with the teeth of each of the planetating gears 24.
Upon rotation of the sun gear 28, the planetary gears 24 orbit around the interior of the ring gear in meshing ~`
relation to the teeth 15 to drive the planet carrier.31 to cause rotation of an output shaft (not shown) connected thereto.
After a given period of use, the hardened spline teeth of the ring gear gradually wear down the relatively soft -spline teeth 20 of the housing 18 and eventually cause back- `
lash or failure such that either replacëment of the housing or repair thereof is required. Repair of the assemblage may be readily accomplished.
In the case of a conventional splined ring gear- -housing assembly which is not equipped with the present drive pin and aperture means, the first repair step is to remove the ring gear 14 from the housing 18. Next, a plurality of semi-circular recesses 34 (see Figs. 2 and 3) are ground into the outer peripheral splined surface of the ring gear. Sub-sequently, the ring gear is reinstalled within the housing. `
Next, complementary semi-circular recesses 35 are drilled into the housing 18 to form with the ring gear semi-circular re¢esses ~;
a plurality of circular apertures which span the peripheral ,~. . .
- t O399~ :
i~terace between the ring gear and the housing. Hardened drive pins 36 are then placed within the circular ape~tures for drivlng, load supporting connection between the ring gear and the housing. Finally, in order to prevent axial movement of the pins or the ring gear, keeper plates 37 are installed in covering relation to the end portions of the pins. The keeper plates are secured to the housing by means of a pair of cap screws 38 and locking means 39, or the like.
Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings illustrate the apparatus as it relates to an original article of manufacture.
That is, instead of adapting the device to the repair of a splined ring gear-housing assembly, it can be used as an original connection means in lieu of the previously utilized ;
splined connections. As shown, a ring gear 40 is provided with a plurality of teeth 42 on the inner peripheral surface thereof and is provided with a substantially smooth external peripheral surface 44. Final drive casing or housing 46 is also provided with a smooth inner peripheral surface 48 which mates with the surface 44 and with a plurality of threaded holes 50. The hardened ring gear 40 is provided with a plurality of semi- ~ -circular recesses 52 which are machined therein and which are used as guides, after installation of the ring gear, for drilling complementary semi-circular recesses 54 in the housing 46. A drive pin 56 is installed in each of the holes formed by the complementary recesses 52 and 54 to drivingly connect the ring gear to the housing 46 as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. A keeper plate 58 is then secured to the housing 46 by means of a pair of bolts 60 to retain the pins 56 axially within the respective holes and to constrain axial move-ment of the ring gear relative to the housing.
Initial installation of the ring gear 40 within '',.. ' :. ' ' ' ,. ' " . ,., ,,. :
~ 1~39~77 :: ~
..
the housing 46 first involves the formation of the semi circular recesses 52 within the outer peripheral surface of the ring gear 40. Next, the ring gear is installed within the inner surface 48 of the housing. The semi-circular recesses 54 in the housing are drilled using the recesses 52 as guides -so as to provide circular apertures spanning the peripheral interface between the ring gear and the housing. The drive -~
pins 56 are then installed within the circular apertures and the keeper plates 54 are affixed.
Even the`improved ring gear-housing combination is sub~ect to wear after prolonged use. The drive pins 56, -continually bearing against the recesses 54 can wallow out such recesses such that a repair or salvage operation is required. With concurrent reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it is `
apparent that such repair of the assemb:Lage could be readily accomplished by removing the pins 56 from between the ring . ~,,, ,.: .....
gear and the housing, removing the ring gear from the housing, `
rotating the ring gear so that the semi-circular recesses 52 would be disposed in angularly spaced relation to the recesses 54 within the housing, drilling new semi-circular recesses 64 (shown in phantom), to complement the repositioned recesses .. . .
in the ring gear so as to again form circular apertures, and reinstalling the drive plns and keeper plates 58, as previously -described. `
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of the apparatus according to the present invention, particularly adaptable for field installation where precise tolerances are `~
difficult to meet. As shown, a ring gear 40' is provided with a plurality of teeth 42' on the inner peripheral surface thereof and is provided with a substantially smooth external ~-peripheral surface 44'. A final drive housing 46' is also ~: . :, - 6 ~
''" " '''~
103g9~
provided with a smooth inner peripheral surface 48' which mates with the surface 44'. The hardened ring gear 40' is provided with a plurality of semi-circular recesses 52' somewhat -similar to the recesses 52 shown in Fig. 4 except that the diameters of the recesses 52' are larger than that of the drive pins 56. Complementary enlarged diameter recesses 54' -are also provided along the peripheral portion 48' of the housing 46'. As in the case of the Fig. 4 embodiment, a keeper plate 58 may be secured to the housing 46' by means of a pair of bolts 60 to retain the pins 56 axially within the holes formed by the respective enlarged semi-circular recesses in the housing and ring gear. ,, It will be apparent from Figs. 6 and 7 that the centers of radii of both the enlarged recesses 52' and 54' are not coincident wlth the center of the drive pin 56' when installed. It may also be seen from Fig. 6 of the drawings that the leftward most set of complementary recesses 52', 54' are angularly displaced with respect to one another by an amount "a" where the complementary set of semi-circular '-recesses shown on the rightward most portion of Fig. 6 are not angularly displaced with respect to one another.
The structure of Figs. 6 and 7 has certain advantages over that shown in Figs~ 4 and 5. In the Fig. 4 ' arrangement, wherein the semi-circular recesses 52 and 54 have radii centers coincid-ent with those of the drive pins 56, precise machining is paramount. Because of the precise < machine tolerances required, each ring gear and housing assembly must in fact be a matched set since any slight angular displacement of the recesses 52 with respect to the recesses ~-54 would result in a difficult or impossible installation of the drive pins 56. As may readily be appreciated in Fig. 6, . , ' ' '~ . ' . ' ' 39~7 the pins 56 may readily be installed within the complementary recesses 5~', 54' even though there may be some slight misalignment thereof. The pins 56, when inserted, merely roll into a stable position contiguous with points of tangency on both of the enlarged recesses 52',54'. `
It is highly desirable from a parts replacement standpoint to have a free interchange of parts so that any --suitably dimensioned ring gear may be installed within a given housing. It is also highly desirable to provide for the `;;
replacement of a ring gear quickly and efficiently in the field with a minimum of expense and machining. In a field situation, -i :~ . . -,.
where it is difficult to machine semi-circular recesses, such as 52, 54, having diameters precisely equal to one half the diameter of the drive pins 56, it is relatively easier to ~ -machine enlarged diameter semi-circular recesses, such as 52', 54', where the ~olerances are not as critical.
In a typical installation of the Fig. 6 embodiment, the ratio of radii of the semi-circular recesses with respect to those of the drive pins will be of the order of .375 to ~
.246. The centers of the radii for the recesses would be `~-offset with respect to the centers of ~he radii for the pins such that the roots of the recesses would be substantially tangent to the outer diameters of the pins. With such an arrangement it would be possible to install the pins even i~ i~
there were a slight angular displacement between adjacent i ~i recesses in the ring gear and housing. This would permit a free interchange of parts in the field and would assure the maintenance of little or no relative movement between the . ; , .. .. .
ring gear and housing since the pins would roll to center ;
themselves in the elongate holes formed by the complementary :~
recesses.
399q~
' Another advantage realized by the Fig. 6 construction is its shock absorbing capacity. An operational ring gear has a propensity to ro~ate intermittently with respect to the housing which contains it. In a conventional system, wherein spline teeth are utilized to prevent such relative motion, the flat surfaces of such spline teeth tend to "hammer" against one another as the parts tend to rotate relatively and this hammering accelerates wear. However, in the elongate hole system of the instant Fig. 6 embodiment, the frictional engagement between the hardened pin 56 and the enlarged --recesses cause such pin to roll within the elongate hole when the ring gear and the housing tend to relatively rotate. As this occurs, the pin gradually absorbs the shock of the counter rotation of the ring and housing.
'rhe method of repair of the embodiment of Fig. 6 would be essentially the same as that described with respect to the round hole arrangement of Fig. 4.
While the invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that variations and modifications are possible within the spirit of the inventive concept. No limitation with respect to such variations and modifications is intended, except by the purview of the appended claims.
.
. . : , -:. .
202,052 filed June 10, 1974.
Background of the Invention Large ring gears such as those used in final drives or in transmissions are usually supplied with peripheral external splines which are intended to engage similar splines .
provided on an internal peripheral surface of the housing within which the ring gear is mounted. Conventionally, retain-ing rings or tab means are provided on the housing to prevent ,... .. .
axial movement of the ring gear. The torque reaction produced by planetating pinions orbiting within the ring gear is carried by the splines provided in the housing.
Ring gears are usually formed from high-strength alloy steel which has ~een hardened for wear resistance and strength. On the contrary, the housing or gear case is normally ~~ ~
manufactured from a softer material such as cast steel. -Consequently, the torque load application to the housing splines results in time in wear or deformation of the splines in the ~0 housing but not on the splines provided on the ring gear. Such wear or deformation can result in backlash, not only in the immediate connection but in the gear train transmitting power to the ring gear and in some cases in a complete failure of $.
the housing splines.
Inasmuch as final drives and transmission housings `
are extremely expensive, especially in large earth moving machinery and the like, methods of repair and salvage have been devised for rejuvenating a worn ring gear-housing assembly.
One method which has been used involves the building up of , worn housing spline teeth by means of welding followed by remachining of such spline teeth on the ring gear and the ~ ;
.
'' . '~".
L113!g~
housing to provide proper mating. This procedure involves ~ .
considerable time and expense and requires large and ` -.
specialized machine tools.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new ring gear-housing combination wherein the ring gear is ~ -retained within the housing by inexpensive, easily replaceable .
means.
To this end the invention consists of a ring gear .
assembly comprising: a ring gear having peripherally :
disposed te~ h means for engaging means of a drive mechanism, housing means for supporting said ring gear, said ring year . .
of relatively harder material than said housing means and ~- ~
having a first peripheral surface contiguous with a corres- :
ponding second peripheral surface of said housing means, :
said first and second peripheral surfaces forming an annular interface between said ring gear and said housing means, said first peripheral surface having a first recess means therein, said second peripheral surface having second recess means ;:
therein, corresponding to and aligned with said first recess .
2Q means, said first and second recess means forming aperture ~ `
means, connecting element means disposed in said aperture ~: ~
means f~r limiting movement of said ring gear relative . .
said housing, keeper means mounted upon a portion of said housing means for limiting axial movement of said connecting .
elements means and said ring gear in at least one direction, ~-said first recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses in said first peripheral surface, said second recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses .
in said second peripheral surface, and wherein said 3Q connecting element means include a hardened circular pin , ~ ~ 2 ~
'~..
'' `
-.,. .. . ,, . ~
~3~ 7 member having a semi-circular portion for co-acting with :
each of said segmental recesses and wherein each of said segmental recesses has a diametric dimension greater than that of said circular pin member, and a depth substantially -equal to the radius of said circular pin member. ~
Other features of an embodiment of the invention ~ .
will become apparent from the following description. -;''''',; `,.' ' ~ 2a ~
" ~.
~.~3997~ `
B~ie~'Descrip'tlon of the D~awings ~ ' 'Fig, 1 is a partial elevation view of a ring gear _ equipped final drive housing'according to the prior application mentioned above;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the ring gear-housing shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternate context, also as shown in the prior ` ' application;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4;
~ Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the enlarged recess configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and ;' Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial view of Fig. 6 showing :
a set of aligned recesses and an installed drive pin.
Detailed Description With reference to Fig. l in the drawings, a ring gear-housing assembly or combination is shown generally at 10.
Internally of the rin8 gear, is disposed a planetary drive mechanism 12. The ring gear element of the combination is shown at 14. It consists of an annular ring having gear teeth 15 formed on an internal peripheral portion thereof. With ~,;
reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the ring gear is also provided with a plurality of spline teeth 16 formed on the external peripheral surface thereof. The housing element of the combination, for instance a final drive housing, is shown at 18. The housing portion includes an internally ''' splined portion having spline teeth 20 adapted for torque load -~
103!99q7 Supporting engagement with the splines 16 of the ring gear. ~ ~
The planetary drive mechanism 12 includes a ;~ ;
plurality of pinion gears 24 which are carried upon equally angularly spaced shaft means 26 and which are adapted for ;
engagement wlth the teeth 15 of the ring gear. The shafts 26 are fixed for rotation with a common carrier 31. A sun gear 28 is rotatably supported upon a tubular input drive shaft 30 in which is concentrically journalled an axle 32. The teeth `-~
of the sun gear 28 mesh with the teeth of each of the planetating gears 24.
Upon rotation of the sun gear 28, the planetary gears 24 orbit around the interior of the ring gear in meshing ~`
relation to the teeth 15 to drive the planet carrier.31 to cause rotation of an output shaft (not shown) connected thereto.
After a given period of use, the hardened spline teeth of the ring gear gradually wear down the relatively soft -spline teeth 20 of the housing 18 and eventually cause back- `
lash or failure such that either replacëment of the housing or repair thereof is required. Repair of the assemblage may be readily accomplished.
In the case of a conventional splined ring gear- -housing assembly which is not equipped with the present drive pin and aperture means, the first repair step is to remove the ring gear 14 from the housing 18. Next, a plurality of semi-circular recesses 34 (see Figs. 2 and 3) are ground into the outer peripheral splined surface of the ring gear. Sub-sequently, the ring gear is reinstalled within the housing. `
Next, complementary semi-circular recesses 35 are drilled into the housing 18 to form with the ring gear semi-circular re¢esses ~;
a plurality of circular apertures which span the peripheral ,~. . .
- t O399~ :
i~terace between the ring gear and the housing. Hardened drive pins 36 are then placed within the circular ape~tures for drivlng, load supporting connection between the ring gear and the housing. Finally, in order to prevent axial movement of the pins or the ring gear, keeper plates 37 are installed in covering relation to the end portions of the pins. The keeper plates are secured to the housing by means of a pair of cap screws 38 and locking means 39, or the like.
Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings illustrate the apparatus as it relates to an original article of manufacture.
That is, instead of adapting the device to the repair of a splined ring gear-housing assembly, it can be used as an original connection means in lieu of the previously utilized ;
splined connections. As shown, a ring gear 40 is provided with a plurality of teeth 42 on the inner peripheral surface thereof and is provided with a substantially smooth external peripheral surface 44. Final drive casing or housing 46 is also provided with a smooth inner peripheral surface 48 which mates with the surface 44 and with a plurality of threaded holes 50. The hardened ring gear 40 is provided with a plurality of semi- ~ -circular recesses 52 which are machined therein and which are used as guides, after installation of the ring gear, for drilling complementary semi-circular recesses 54 in the housing 46. A drive pin 56 is installed in each of the holes formed by the complementary recesses 52 and 54 to drivingly connect the ring gear to the housing 46 as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. A keeper plate 58 is then secured to the housing 46 by means of a pair of bolts 60 to retain the pins 56 axially within the respective holes and to constrain axial move-ment of the ring gear relative to the housing.
Initial installation of the ring gear 40 within '',.. ' :. ' ' ' ,. ' " . ,., ,,. :
~ 1~39~77 :: ~
..
the housing 46 first involves the formation of the semi circular recesses 52 within the outer peripheral surface of the ring gear 40. Next, the ring gear is installed within the inner surface 48 of the housing. The semi-circular recesses 54 in the housing are drilled using the recesses 52 as guides -so as to provide circular apertures spanning the peripheral interface between the ring gear and the housing. The drive -~
pins 56 are then installed within the circular apertures and the keeper plates 54 are affixed.
Even the`improved ring gear-housing combination is sub~ect to wear after prolonged use. The drive pins 56, -continually bearing against the recesses 54 can wallow out such recesses such that a repair or salvage operation is required. With concurrent reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it is `
apparent that such repair of the assemb:Lage could be readily accomplished by removing the pins 56 from between the ring . ~,,, ,.: .....
gear and the housing, removing the ring gear from the housing, `
rotating the ring gear so that the semi-circular recesses 52 would be disposed in angularly spaced relation to the recesses 54 within the housing, drilling new semi-circular recesses 64 (shown in phantom), to complement the repositioned recesses .. . .
in the ring gear so as to again form circular apertures, and reinstalling the drive plns and keeper plates 58, as previously -described. `
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of the apparatus according to the present invention, particularly adaptable for field installation where precise tolerances are `~
difficult to meet. As shown, a ring gear 40' is provided with a plurality of teeth 42' on the inner peripheral surface thereof and is provided with a substantially smooth external ~-peripheral surface 44'. A final drive housing 46' is also ~: . :, - 6 ~
''" " '''~
103g9~
provided with a smooth inner peripheral surface 48' which mates with the surface 44'. The hardened ring gear 40' is provided with a plurality of semi-circular recesses 52' somewhat -similar to the recesses 52 shown in Fig. 4 except that the diameters of the recesses 52' are larger than that of the drive pins 56. Complementary enlarged diameter recesses 54' -are also provided along the peripheral portion 48' of the housing 46'. As in the case of the Fig. 4 embodiment, a keeper plate 58 may be secured to the housing 46' by means of a pair of bolts 60 to retain the pins 56 axially within the holes formed by the respective enlarged semi-circular recesses in the housing and ring gear. ,, It will be apparent from Figs. 6 and 7 that the centers of radii of both the enlarged recesses 52' and 54' are not coincident wlth the center of the drive pin 56' when installed. It may also be seen from Fig. 6 of the drawings that the leftward most set of complementary recesses 52', 54' are angularly displaced with respect to one another by an amount "a" where the complementary set of semi-circular '-recesses shown on the rightward most portion of Fig. 6 are not angularly displaced with respect to one another.
The structure of Figs. 6 and 7 has certain advantages over that shown in Figs~ 4 and 5. In the Fig. 4 ' arrangement, wherein the semi-circular recesses 52 and 54 have radii centers coincid-ent with those of the drive pins 56, precise machining is paramount. Because of the precise < machine tolerances required, each ring gear and housing assembly must in fact be a matched set since any slight angular displacement of the recesses 52 with respect to the recesses ~-54 would result in a difficult or impossible installation of the drive pins 56. As may readily be appreciated in Fig. 6, . , ' ' '~ . ' . ' ' 39~7 the pins 56 may readily be installed within the complementary recesses 5~', 54' even though there may be some slight misalignment thereof. The pins 56, when inserted, merely roll into a stable position contiguous with points of tangency on both of the enlarged recesses 52',54'. `
It is highly desirable from a parts replacement standpoint to have a free interchange of parts so that any --suitably dimensioned ring gear may be installed within a given housing. It is also highly desirable to provide for the `;;
replacement of a ring gear quickly and efficiently in the field with a minimum of expense and machining. In a field situation, -i :~ . . -,.
where it is difficult to machine semi-circular recesses, such as 52, 54, having diameters precisely equal to one half the diameter of the drive pins 56, it is relatively easier to ~ -machine enlarged diameter semi-circular recesses, such as 52', 54', where the ~olerances are not as critical.
In a typical installation of the Fig. 6 embodiment, the ratio of radii of the semi-circular recesses with respect to those of the drive pins will be of the order of .375 to ~
.246. The centers of the radii for the recesses would be `~-offset with respect to the centers of ~he radii for the pins such that the roots of the recesses would be substantially tangent to the outer diameters of the pins. With such an arrangement it would be possible to install the pins even i~ i~
there were a slight angular displacement between adjacent i ~i recesses in the ring gear and housing. This would permit a free interchange of parts in the field and would assure the maintenance of little or no relative movement between the . ; , .. .. .
ring gear and housing since the pins would roll to center ;
themselves in the elongate holes formed by the complementary :~
recesses.
399q~
' Another advantage realized by the Fig. 6 construction is its shock absorbing capacity. An operational ring gear has a propensity to ro~ate intermittently with respect to the housing which contains it. In a conventional system, wherein spline teeth are utilized to prevent such relative motion, the flat surfaces of such spline teeth tend to "hammer" against one another as the parts tend to rotate relatively and this hammering accelerates wear. However, in the elongate hole system of the instant Fig. 6 embodiment, the frictional engagement between the hardened pin 56 and the enlarged --recesses cause such pin to roll within the elongate hole when the ring gear and the housing tend to relatively rotate. As this occurs, the pin gradually absorbs the shock of the counter rotation of the ring and housing.
'rhe method of repair of the embodiment of Fig. 6 would be essentially the same as that described with respect to the round hole arrangement of Fig. 4.
While the invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that variations and modifications are possible within the spirit of the inventive concept. No limitation with respect to such variations and modifications is intended, except by the purview of the appended claims.
.
. . : , -:. .
Claims (3)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A ring gear assembly comprising;
a ring gear having peripherally disposed teeth means for engaging means of a drive mechanism, housing means for supporting said ring gear, said ring gear of relatively harder material than said housing means and having a first peripheral surface contiguous with a corresponding second peripheral surface of said housing means, said first and second peripheral surfaces forming an annular interface between said ring gear and said housing means, said first peripheral surface having a first recess means therein, said second peripheral surface having second recess means therein, corresponding to and aligned with said first recess means, said first and second recess means forming aperture means, connecting element means disposed in said aperture means for limiting movement of said ring gear relative said housing, keeper means mounted upon a portion of said housing means for limiting axial movement of said connecting elements means and said ring gear in at least one direction, said first recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses in said first peripheral surface, said second recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses in said second peripheral surface, and wherein said connecting element means include a hardened circular pin member having a semi-circular portion for co-acting with each of said segmental recesses and wherein each of said segmental recesses has a diametric dimension greater than that of said circular pin member, and a depth substantially equal to the radius of said circular pin member.
a ring gear having peripherally disposed teeth means for engaging means of a drive mechanism, housing means for supporting said ring gear, said ring gear of relatively harder material than said housing means and having a first peripheral surface contiguous with a corresponding second peripheral surface of said housing means, said first and second peripheral surfaces forming an annular interface between said ring gear and said housing means, said first peripheral surface having a first recess means therein, said second peripheral surface having second recess means therein, corresponding to and aligned with said first recess means, said first and second recess means forming aperture means, connecting element means disposed in said aperture means for limiting movement of said ring gear relative said housing, keeper means mounted upon a portion of said housing means for limiting axial movement of said connecting elements means and said ring gear in at least one direction, said first recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses in said first peripheral surface, said second recess means including a plurality of segmental recesses in said second peripheral surface, and wherein said connecting element means include a hardened circular pin member having a semi-circular portion for co-acting with each of said segmental recesses and wherein each of said segmental recesses has a diametric dimension greater than that of said circular pin member, and a depth substantially equal to the radius of said circular pin member.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing means surround said ring gear and wherein said first peripheral surface is the radially outermost portion of said ring gear.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and second peripheral surfaces each have spline means for inter-action to prevent relative rotation between said ring gear and said housing means.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US54694975A | 1975-02-04 | 1975-02-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1039977A true CA1039977A (en) | 1978-10-10 |
Family
ID=24182676
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA243,076A Expired CA1039977A (en) | 1975-02-04 | 1976-01-07 | Ring gear assembly |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS51101659A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1039977A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1532700A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP6859039B2 (en) * | 2016-07-12 | 2021-04-14 | ナブテスコ株式会社 | Gear device |
-
1976
- 1976-01-07 CA CA243,076A patent/CA1039977A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-02-04 JP JP1217976A patent/JPS51101659A/en active Pending
- 1976-02-04 GB GB441476A patent/GB1532700A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS51101659A (en) | 1976-09-08 |
| GB1532700A (en) | 1978-11-22 |
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